Ideally, the research participant's identity is not known to the researcher. This is called:

Ideally, the research participant's identity is not known to the researcher. This is called: (a) Anonymity

(b) Confidentiality

(c) Deception

(d) Desensitizing

✅ Correct option: (a) Anonymity

Explanation:

Anonymity occurs when the researcher does not know the identity of the participants at all. This means that no identifying information—such as names, ID numbers, or contact details—is collected. Anonymous research provides the highest level of privacy protection for participants. Anonymity is especially useful when studying sensitive topics such as attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors that participants may hesitate to disclose if their identity were known. When participants are anonymous, they are more likely to respond honestly. Confidentiality, in contrast, means the researcher knows the participant’s identity but does not reveal it. Deception refers to misleading participants about the study’s purpose, and desensitizing is unrelated to participant identity. Therefore, the correct answer is anonymity, option (a).

10 Related PPSC Facts:

Anonymity means no identity is known Strongest privacy protection Encourages honest responses Often used in surveys No identifying data collected Different from confidentiality Reduces participant risk Preferred for sensitive topics Ethical advantage Limits follow-up with participants